Tora 302 vs MX Pro?

Coolnick · May 2007

For general xc use I am considering one of the above. Which is the better fork for money and is air better than coil?

Unknown · May 2007

For xc air is better as it is lighter and more tunable. Persomally i would get the toras but i know other people rave about the MX comps. Are they the same price?

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Coolnick · May 2007

Similar price I believe. MX are air with tora being coil sprung

Unknown · May 2007

Not only coil or air Toras, but the 302 and 318 version have different dampers, the 318 being more tunable. IMHO the best one for XC would be last years 302 air, as it weighs 4.4 lbs. The coil ones pile the weight on: you get adjustable travel, but extra weight. MX Pro 2007 a great XC fork too, if a little weighty, but has external rebound adjustment unlike the old Comp. Yhe Tora is stiffer and stronger, and IMHO the better fork.

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Coolnick · May 2007

supersonic - even the 302 u-turn model against MX Pro 2007 you would still go Tora?

Unknown · May 2007

I have and 07 air tora 318 and it play's lovely. It took a while to bed in, but is so smooth, which is more than can be said for the back end of my bike.

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Coolnick · May 2007

I have ended up plumping for upgrading fork over v brakes right now, as most riding in good conditions and current fork not great. Is between Tora and MX pro - but Tora seems more popular?

Unknown · May 2007

For harder riding, Tora Uturn fork. For Xc and lighter riding I'd take the MX Pro. If you can find a 2006 302 air, I'd have that over them all.

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Kestrel_daos · May 2007

Tora does indeed seem to be more popular. If you didn't want to go for a U-turn version, you can get the bog-standard 302 for œ90 from Chainreaction, which must be a godo œ30 cheaper than you can get the MX Pro for.

Admittedly, the MX Pro is air, and still does have the legendary fit-and-forget seal of approval. On the other hand, the Tora is a little burlier, but stiffer, and has the Supersonic-20000posts-seal of approval.

Giant XTC SX '06

Kestrel_daos · May 2007

(Tora 302 air seems to be pretty hard to get. The cheapest seem around œ150)

Giant XTC SX '06

Unknown · May 2007

Merlin did have it for 113 quid, and som eon ebay from dealers.

The CRC one is an OE coil (non U turn version), and is heavy.

MX Pro 4.6lbs
Tora 302 Air 2006 4.4lbs
Tora 302 coil 2007 5.3lbs.

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Coolnick · May 2007

Being naive here, what does the u-turn function actually do?

Kestrel_daos · May 2007

After a quick search, I honestly don't think that there are any 06 302Airs left. Perhaps going for a 318 solo air would be a good idea?

Paul, any idea whether Rs are going to bring back a 302 solo next year?

U-turn means the fork can be wound up and down over a range of approx 20-30mm. This is useful for different situations, for instance you might want a lot of travel for a downhill, when it would normally upset the bike's geometry. On the other hand, it adds weight and means that there is no Preload adjuster. No preload adjuster means that the fork is not adjustable for your weight.

Giant XTC SX '06

Coolnick · May 2007

Quite a useful addition to fork then, why would you go shorter eg. 85mm over say 100mm?

Kestrel_daos · May 2007

Less pedal bob when going uphill - although forks with lockout generally solve this problem by letting you lock the fork.

Also less travel, "normally" means faster if you're on the flat or racing.

By the way, Cheapest Mx pro is œ145 from Chainreactioncycles.
Giant XTC SX '06

Coolnick · May 2007

Sorry read your reply thinking I was at bottom of page, I understand now why you would change for different use. ignore my last post doh!

Coolnick · May 2007

So would you use lockout function often on a ride typically?

Kestrel_daos · May 2007

^ah i won't ignore it. A fair few people do use lockout. I for one don't suffer from pedal bob, since my fork is only 100mm and is a little too stiff for me, so I don't need my lockout.

Giant XTC SX '06

Unknown · May 2007

Uturn forks have a total travel range of 45mm, 85-130 on the Tora. It also adjusts the spring rate to macth the travel which is useful.

I think RS dropped the Tora 302 air for 2007 as it was just too bloody good! people were buying them rather than Recons. Cheap, tough, realtively light and great performer. It was a budget XC for AND all mountain at the same time.

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Kestrel_daos · May 2007

^Will they bring it back though?

Giant XTC SX '06

Unknown · May 2007

Hard to say. I hope so!

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Coolnick · May 2007

As a rough guide then when would you use say 85mm, 100mm and 130mm - Just trying to get idea of which setting would be best for general xc use I suppose. Your all being v helpful - I dont have a clue ha ha

Unknown · May 2007

It depends on your bike and what it was designed for. What bike, and what travel forks? Most XC bikes are 100mm or less. Altering travel can affect the way the bike handles.

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Kestrel_daos · May 2007

Yep. A really racy XC bike might be as little as 60-80mm. "Most" (sorry generalisation) XC riders probably use around 80-100mm, although "trail and all mountain" riders who do bigger hits and stuff would use up to 130mm.

It really depends on what your bike is. If it's an XC bike, 130mm will feel really slow, but will probably be ok for the occassional steep downhill.

Giant XTC SX '06

Unknown · May 2007

I would say something like my Zaskar is a true XC race bike. 80mm travel fork, superlight components. XC nowadays sometimes means 'trail riding' which i think is a little different

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Coolnick · May 2007

Bike is a Std spec rockhopper if that helps?

Unknown · May 2007

Sorta, depends on year! What is the make of fork?

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Coolnick · May 2007

sorry, current fork is manitou axel elite 100mm though set at 80mm I believe after measuring it.

Coolnick · May 2007

2004

Unknown · May 2007

Ah, ok. Its not a bad fork, not too heavy, but you should feel an improvement with the Tora or MX. 100mm suits the Hopper fine for general riding duties.

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Kestrel_daos · May 2007

Paul you really do love your Zaskar. My XTC is generally a pretty racy XC bike, and generally feels the pain over drop-offs.

Giant XTC SX '06

Tora 302 vs MX Pro?

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